SHAH ALAM, 20 Apr: The actions of about 50 individuals who were protesting the use of the cross in a church at Taman Medan are politically motivated to create unrest among the people of different races and religions.
The Taman Medan Assemblyman, Haniza Talha, said that the move is unwarranted because it gives a picture that Islam is extremist in nature and is disturbing the beliefs of other religions.
“One of the demonstrators, Munaliza Hamzah, was an Umno-BN candidate for N33 Taman Medan in the GE12 but lost.
“Another, Datuk Abdullah Abu Bakar, who claimed that he was a village head, was clearly lying because there are no longer any villages in Taman Medan. He is also a PJS Umno Branch Chief,” she said when contacted by Selangor Kini.
She said that the group, which was allegedly masterminded by Umno, should open doors to negotiations and discussions instead of showing acts of provocation and creating a disharmonious situation.
“Hopefully, they will go back to the real teachings of Islam which loves peace and unity with the non-Muslim community. They should not have issued abusive and rude words,” she said.
Haniza said that the rented church is in the area of commercial shops that are less populated.
“They are deliberately ignoring me as the Assembly of the area and making it seem like I am not aware and sensitive about Islam,” she said.
She said that religious education and lectures at mosques and suraus have always been held since 2008 compared to previously.
“The Muslim population is very happy and satisfied with this development because previously it was hard to hold knowledgeable events because the Ustaz (teacher) was from the opposition,” she said.
NS
